Pyrotechnic signal.



. 648,8l7. Patented may l, mnu.

H. m. WARNER. PYBUTECHNIG SIGNAL.

' (Application mea my se, 1599.) (Hu Model.) 3 Sheets--Sheet l.

l l li ffy H. FI?. WARNER.

PYRGTECHNIC SIGNAL.

(Application Bled may 26, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

/72 /73 ii w No. 6 48,8I7. Patented May I, |900.

.III-TI'IILIIIIIIIII.

Patented may 1,' mue.

No. 648,8I7. H. E?. WARNER.

PYRDTEGHNIO SIGNAL. (Application med my 2e, 1899.) (No Modal.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

UNITED 'STATES Trina.

PATENT HARRY MARTINE `VARNER, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE D. BURTON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PYRoTEcHNlc SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part f Letters Patent N0. 648,817, dated May 1, 1900. Application filed May 26, 1899. Serial No'. 718,839. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY MARTINE WAR- NER,-a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Somerville, in the county of Middlesex, in the State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improve- K ments in Pyrotechnic Signals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a pyrotechnic signal which when thrown through the air will penetrate theground and remain standing in an upright or inclined position and being ignited will serve for some minutes as a signal device. It is especially useful to be thrown from a delayed railway-train, whether in n10- tion or stopped, to give warning to an approaching train.

One object of the invention is to provide a pyrotechnic signal of this character which will neither fall on its side nor be broken od on striking the ground.

Another object of the invention is to secure steadiness of flight through the air.

Another object of the invention is to provide a steadying extension whereby the length of the signal is increased to insure its proper ight and alightment.

Another object of the invention is to secure automatic ignition of the pyrotechnic signal on striking the ground.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a steadying device which may be packed separately from the fuse and readily applied thereto when the signal is to be used.

These and other objects of the invention are accomplished by the construction hereinafter described. i

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a side elevat-ion of this pyrotechnic signal ready for use, parts being broken out to show the interior of the signal body or fuse and of the wings. Fig. 2 represents a side delevation of the steadying device rolled up ready for packing, the lower part of said device being broken off. Fig. 3 represents a similar view to that illustrated in Fig-2, show-Y ing the means in operation foi" tearing off the Wrapper. Fig. 4 represents, on an enlarged scale, an igniter disposed between the signalbody and steadying device. Fig. 5 represents a similar view to Fig. 4, the igniter being in the form of a spring of somewhat-diderent shape from that shown in Fig. 4. Fig. G represents a plan view of the blank from which the wings of the stead ying device are preferably formed. Fig. 7 represents, on an enlarged scale, a form of clamp attached to the steadyin g device and grasping thesignal-bod y and an igniter in the form of a hammer disposed between `said parts. Fig- 8 represents a blank for forming the stilener for the Wings of the steadying device. transverse section looking downward from line 9 9 of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 represents a transverse section on line 10 10 of Fig. 1. Fig. l1 represents a perspective View of a stilfening device in which the wings are provided with separate stiening-arms. Fig. 12 represents -,.annlarged perspective view of one form of clamp for holding the steadying device on the fuse.

The same reference-numbers indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

This pyrotechnic signal comprises a signal body or fuse in the form of a tube l0 for containing an illuminant 20, a pointed head at the front end of said body for penetrating the earth and holding the signal in standing position, and ai steadying device for insuring a proper flight thereof.

The signal-body l0 is preferably made of paper or any other suitable material. The illuminant 20, with which the tube 10 is charged, may consist of any suitable slowburning material which produces a red or other suitable signal-light.

The pointed head 30 is composed of metal Fig. 9 represents a or' other suitable substance, preferably castiron, and it is provided with a point or prong 31, adapted to penetrate the ground or other substance when the pyrotechnic signal alights after being thrown Vthrough the air. This point is preferably in tapering'form to better adapt the signal to stand in softearth, audit is sufficiently sharp to enable it to penetrate a track-sleeper. The head 30 is provided at its upper end with a reduced shank 32, adapted to Iit thejnterior of the tube 10, and at the base of said shank with a shoulder 33 of a depth equal to the thicknessl of the tube, so that the body of the head is flush therewith. This shank may be hollow and adaptedy to re- IOO ceive a plug 34, of wood or other suitable material, or the shank may be solid and provided with a small central opening.

A stiifening-rod 40 extends from the head 30 longitudinally through the tube 10, preferably to the upper end thereof, and serves to prevent the signal from being broken olf after it lands by the momentum 'imparted by the moving train, which operates in a lateral direction with respect to the standing signal. This rod may be cast with the head or inserted in a hole therein or in a hole in the plug 34.

To aid in securingaproper flight and alightinent, the body of the signalpr fuse proper is preferably provided with an extension of any suitable form which serves to elongate it, and this extension may be detachable and may be provided with guide-wings. In the form shown in the drawings the extension is represented as a detachable rod carrying -win gs and constituting a steadying device 50.

A detachable steadying device 50 applied to the body 10 tends to impart a rotary motion to the signal and to steady it in its flight through the air, and thereby to better insure its landing in upright or inclined position. Should the signal-body fall on its side or lighted cud, it would be ineffective as a signal. This steadying device is preferably detachable and can be applied to the body or fuse when it is desired to use the latter, and it may subsequently be picked up by trackmen and saved for further use, if desired. This steadying device comprises a body-GO in the form of a tube or rod, wings 70, secured to said body, and a clamp 80, also secured to said body below said wings and adapted to engage the upper end of the body. The wings may be formed from a blank of suitable material,

such as paper or other substance, inthe form shown in Fig. 6. The blank is folded on the lines 71 to form the outer edges of the wings and-on the lines 72 to form the innerl edges thereof.. The lines 71 are disposed relatively distant from one another sucient to constitute the width of the win gs, and the lines 72 are disposed in pairs between the lines 71 and paralleltherewith, the lines of each pair being adjacent to each other and the space between them forming a segment of a tube 7 5,\vhich fits over the body of the steadying device. The Wings are preferably provided with a stifener, which serves to hold them in adjusted position, whether open or closed. The device herein shown for this purpose is struck from iexible sheet metal, such as tin or brass, in the form of a blank, substantially as shownin Fig. 8, and comprises a collar 90, havingarms 91 extending therefrom. Each wing when constructed in its preferable form, as described, is composed of two thicknesses of paper or other suitable material folded `upon itself, and the arms 91 extend into the'wings between the lfolds thereof and are cemented thereinto in any desired manner. When the pyrotechnic signal is placed on the market, the wings are closely rolled around the body and securely held in 'closed position by a wrapper 10 O,of paper or other suitable material, which is cemented around them.

A convenient device for opening the wrapper consists of a string 110, disposed underneath the wrapper and having both its ends projecting beyond said wrapper and provided with knots or protuberances 111 and 112, either of which acts as a severing device.' On pulling either'end of the string the knot or projection at the other end thereof severs the wrapper from end, to end and releases the wings.

The clamp 80 (shown in the drawings) comprises a collar 81, adapted for attachment to the lower end of the rod 60, and jaws 82, extending downward from said collar and adapt ed to embrace the upper end of the signalbody. These jaws are provided with notches for receivinga ring 83, which may slide loosely thereon or be soldered permanently to the jaws.' This ring serves to hold said jaws firmly against the body, so as to rigidly connect the steadying device therewith.

An .igniting device for the pyrotechnic signal is disposed between the lower end of the steadying device and the upper end of the signal-body, said body being provided withy a fulminating cap 11. Several forms of ignit-` In the form shown in Fig. 1 the end of the rod 60 is provided' ing devices are shown.

with a hammer (itin the form of a tapered block, which rests on the fulminating cap 11, and the impact produced by the pyrotechnic signal striking the ground causes the cap to ignite, whereby the signal is lighted.

In the form shown inl Fig. 4 a spring 65, .at-`

tached to the rod .60, has its free end resting on the cap 11. In Fig. 5 another form of spring 66 is shown, which ope'ratesin asimilar manner to that shown in Fig. 4. In either case the cap may be exploded automatically when the signal strikes the ground or kby the use of the spring before the throwing of the signal, or the pyrotechnic signal may be lighted by an ordinary match.

In Fig. 11 the wings of the steadying-guide are shown as reinforced by individual strips 91, which are disposed at dierent heights, so

as not to interfere with one another when the wings are rolled up.

In Fig. 12 a form of clamp is shown for uniting the steadying-guide with the signal-body, the jaws 82' of said clamp being more expanded at theirvupperrends to impart a stronger grasp.

In the use of athis pyrotechnic signal the string is pulled and the wrapper 100 torn 1 oif. The wings are then unrolled and adjustp ed in the desired position, the upper corners being preferably bent or curved so as to im-A part a rotary motion to the pyrotechnic signal in its flight. The signal is then thrown up in' the air, and the weight of the head and illuminating material, together with the steadying device, causes it to alight in upright position, or nearly so, the spike-like point penetrating the ground and holding it in such position. The pyrotechnic signal being ignited, the slow-burning material contained therein burns for some minutes, giving forth a red or other signal light, as desired, so that an approaching train is warned against proceeding too rapidly.

I claim as my invention- 1'. A iiightsteadying device for a pyrotechnic signal comprising an elongated body provided with means for attachment to a sighalfuse and-adapted to constitute a body extension of said fuse when applied thereto.

2. A iiight-steadying device for a pyrotechnic signal comprising an elongated body provided .with means for attachment to a signal fuse and adapted to constitute a body extension of said fu'sewhen applied thereto, said elongated body being provided with wings. l

3. A ight-steadying device for a pyrotech "nic signal comprising an elongated body provided with a spring-clamp for attachment to body extension of said fuse 'when l body.

a signal fuse and adapted to constitute a applied thereto. v l; 4. A pyrotechnic signal comprisin ga signalbody for containing the illuminant, a pointed head at one .end of said body, and a detachableiigh-t-steadying device secured to :the

other endfof said body and having al lbody, p

which serves as an extension of the signalbody, said extension body being provided with wings. *Y

6. A flight-steadyin g device for a pyrotechnic signal comprising an elongated body pro vided with wings adapted to fold thereon, and with means for attachment to a signal-fuse, said elongated body being adapted to constitute a body extensionl of the fuse when applied thereto.

7. The combination of a signal-body for containing illuminating material, a steadying de- 10. Ailight-guide comprisinga central tube, l

and wings extending therefrom, said tube and wings being formed from a rectangular flexible sheet folde'don distant lines to form the outer edges of the wings, and-on parallel adjacent lines disposed between the distant lines to form the central tube, said wings being composed cf two thicknessesof the material.`

i HARRY 'MARTINE WARNER.

' Witnessesz JOHN- L. WAKEFIELD J. IIARRISAUBIN; 

